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szrikem's review
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
msilkwolfe's review
5.0
Whoa. I feel like my words are paltry in comparison to what other people have said about this book, but I do think it’s one everyone should read, discuss, and ruminate on. I could even see reading sections of it in a high school English class.
wakejyles's review
3.0
I feel conflicted about this book, as well as the rating I’m giving it. I really enjoyed the last couple sections at the end, was ambivalent towards the beginning, and kind of disliked the middle of it. I think he raises a lot of interesting, well-written insights about his experiences in Trump’s America, as well as his perspective on how we got here. That said, I couldn’t seem to get past how pretentious and full of himself he came across more often than not. There were times where it felt like he wrote the novel just to talk about how many women he’s slept with, or how he came to become a multi millionaire. And while I can kind of see how they are relevant to his overall point, I didn’t really see what they added to the book as a whole.
nancebe's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
timna_wyckoff's review
3.0
This is one that I think I need to talk through with someone before I can fully figure out how I feel about it. The writing is great, the form is super interesting, and the ideas/perspectives seem important to have out there. But...it felt flat and didn't resonate with me---I don't think it's just because I have such mixed feelings about the character, which it's pretty clear was part of the point. Hmm.
ktaylorhurley's review
5.0
I loved this book. It’s so graceful and nuanced, but also direct and challenging. Just a really good read.
bodo_johnson's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
samiaba15's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
noella_t's review
4.0
I won't try to tell the story, it's been written by others.
While I recognize that it's brilliantly written, my main problem with the book is that it's part memoir, and it's also fiction. That leaves me with the question, what was true and what was not?
The book started out slow, I wasn't sure I wanted to read it, but it's always helpful to know what everyone is talking about when I go back to my book club, so I plowed along. Then it became interesting. The author seems to hold nothing back, especially details of his sexual exploits, but then when a memoir is called fiction, I suppose that makes it much easier. No one can say for sure whether the things really happened.
His understanding of the financial world is much more than my own, and I find it hard to accept some of his statements. But then he explains things so well - how can I not begin to understand the greed that has gotten us to where we are now - high inflation, and people seem to not care about each other. It's not the 50s anymore.
I'm not brown, I've never experienced prejudice. But I remember how I felt after 9-11. For instance I had gone shopping at our local mall with a friend a few days after 9-11. A man working in a kiosk in the mall was selling manicure items, giving away nail buffers. While he told us he was a Jew, I felt a distrust - how did I know he was Jewish and not Muslim? I couldn't tell the difference. I felt fear. Yet, our author experienced people's fear of him, and having been born in the States, he wasn't even a practicing Muslim at 9-11. He felt the same shock and sorrow that everyone else felt, but that was compounded by everyone's fear of him and his family.
The author forced me to look at my own fears and how they might direct my interaction with someone not like me. That was uncomfortable.
While I recognize that it's brilliantly written, my main problem with the book is that it's part memoir, and it's also fiction. That leaves me with the question, what was true and what was not?
The book started out slow, I wasn't sure I wanted to read it, but it's always helpful to know what everyone is talking about when I go back to my book club, so I plowed along. Then it became interesting. The author seems to hold nothing back, especially details of his sexual exploits, but then when a memoir is called fiction, I suppose that makes it much easier. No one can say for sure whether the things really happened.
His understanding of the financial world is much more than my own, and I find it hard to accept some of his statements. But then he explains things so well - how can I not begin to understand the greed that has gotten us to where we are now - high inflation, and people seem to not care about each other. It's not the 50s anymore.
I'm not brown, I've never experienced prejudice. But I remember how I felt after 9-11. For instance I had gone shopping at our local mall with a friend a few days after 9-11. A man working in a kiosk in the mall was selling manicure items, giving away nail buffers. While he told us he was a Jew, I felt a distrust - how did I know he was Jewish and not Muslim? I couldn't tell the difference. I felt fear. Yet, our author experienced people's fear of him, and having been born in the States, he wasn't even a practicing Muslim at 9-11. He felt the same shock and sorrow that everyone else felt, but that was compounded by everyone's fear of him and his family.
The author forced me to look at my own fears and how they might direct my interaction with someone not like me. That was uncomfortable.
caitlinpurdy4's review
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0